A - OK

Check out big girl in her Bumbo! Clare Anne had her 2 month check up today. Unfortunately, that also came with those dreaded shots...one oral and a shot in each leg. :-(

She was 12 pounds and 1 ounce and a little over 22 inches long...slightly bigger than Lila was at 2 months.
She's been doing awesome at night. Since Friday, she's slept consistently from 9 to 7. It sure is wonderful to get a full nights sleep...hope she keeps it up!!

Love my growing girl.

2 Months Old

Clare Anne is 2 months old today! She's changed so much in the last month. She's bigger for one ... growing like a weed! She's got the sweetest little cheeks perfect for kissing and a double chin to die for. Her eyes are still a dark blue. She looks more like Mommy and my side of the family, whereas Lila was her daddy made over.
Some things about little miss this month:

1. She eats like a champ..never missed or refused a feeding. Right now she still nurses in the morning and then takes four 5 ounce bottles the rest of the day. She still battles some tummy troubles and started the month really fussy till at evening time. That's getting a little better.

2. She's an awesome nighttime sleeper and spent the first night in her room last night. She slept from 9 to 6:15...I mean for 2 months, that's as good as it gets! Most mornings, she sleeps till between 4 and 5.3. She does not like her car seat and she is not a good car rider. This makes trip to Madison quite difficult.

4. She loves her sister. Lila can almost always get a smile out of her.5. She chomps on a pacifier bigtime. Her little cheeks have indentions left on them from her sucking on it.

6. She's getting better in her swing and that's where most of her daytime naps happen. She's also getting better at playing on the floor in her mat. She loves to be held so these things have taken some getting used to.

7. She still sleeps and naps swaddled. She's the coziest little lady, and snuggles with the best of them! She's a mommy's girl for sure. :)
She's a little angel and makes our family so much more complete.

A Week in Pictures

The girls and I spent allll week in Madison with my parents and sister. I loved it -- I miss them terribly and I had kind of gotten used to being around my mama again because she was around so much this summer helping out. 3.5 hours is getting to be too far away for this mama. So here is our week in pictures.

Lila stayed attached to my sister's hip. She ADORES her Aunt Tasey. There was one point this week where I was talking to Lila. I said "Oohh, I sure do love you." She looked me squarely with a little smirk on her face and said "Ooh, I love Tasey." Go figure.A big highlight of Lila's week was going to spend the night with Aunt Casey at her house. Casey was prepared with book, dolls, crayons and bath toys ... then came bedtime and Lila fruited out. Casey handled it like a champ though. ;)Clare at 8 Weeks...Rudy was a little curious of her.My sweet baby's sweet smile ... she's doing this more and more.The girls and their Papa.Grammy and I took the girls to the Botanical Gardens so Lila could play in the treehouses they had there. It was WAY too hot, but Lila still had fun. Clare was fuuusssyy, but finally got comfortable enough to take a nap...as long as Grammy kept the stroller moving.No trip would be complete without a little shopping and playing in the water at Bridgestreet.We came home yesterday (it was a long ride with just me and the youngins), and boy, were we glad to see Daddy. Today we headed to a family reunion for Josh's grandmother.

Now that's how you spend a maternity leave!

Just for Giggles

I'm constantly looking at Clare trying to figure out if I think she looks like Lila. I looked back and realized that I had done a 7 week post for Lila ... I think they look like sisters, but I definitely see differences in them! I believe Clare might like to eat just a little more ... Clare's sweet little face is a bit fuller than her sister's was. ;-)

7 Weeks Old

Little Sister is 7 weeks old today...my, oh, my time sure is flying!
Biggest accomplishment in the last week ... sleep from around 10ish to between 5 and 6 in the morning. WooHoo!
This certainly makes up for the time between 4 and 8 everynight that she's fussing and crying. Bless her ... colic is not a friend of the Cook's for sure.
She is cooing and smiling more and more. She's also much more aware of her surroundings these days.
She LOVES her sister (and her sister loves her), but she HATES her carseat and being in the car.
She's a persnickety little thing, but sweet as pie.

l.o.v.e.

Could they be any sweeter?

Seriously??

Do you see what I see?

I see that the sweet (and fiesty and independent) girl in the picture below wrote her name. Use your imagination with the "a" ... she's still learning how to form that letter. I can't begin to tell you how proud I was of her. It makes me smile that this girl loves learning so much. She's one smart little Cookie (pun intended ;)!

Time with Clare

For the next 6 weeks, I get to spend some quality time with this sweet little baby girl .... and of course with this sweet little stinker too.

Lila though is spending some time at Sissy's still -- basically Monday through Thursday with the occasional day with Clare and me. I am officially on maternity leave ... 6.5 weeks into Clare's little life. I'm looking forward to the one-on-one time that I will get to spend with her ... I feel like I need the time to get to know her a little better. It's so busy with two kiddos, and I'm thankful for the quality time Clare and I will have. I am also looking forward to some extra time with Lila. We plan on relaxing a lot, but we'll be on the move a bit too. I see a trip to Madison in our future, and we're heading to the beach in September ... I can't wait for that!
Here's to the next 6 weeks ... may you be great!

Great Aunts

Grammy, the girls, and I headed to a family reunion in Boaz today. Clare got the chance to meet some family that we just don't get to see very often along with two of her great-aunts...My Aunt Janet and my Aunt Cat. We so enjoyed seeing everyone!!Lila really took to my Aunt Cat today...made me smile to see them together!

Lila's Mani/Pedi

On Saturday, Grammy and I were in need of a pedicure. We had Lila with us, so when we got to the salon, I let her pick out a nail color and have her fingernails and toenails painted. She sat in that chair with me like a big girl and let that fellow paint her nails. She even sat at the dryer with those little fingers stuck under the light. Pretty stinkin' cute ... I didn't have my camera so we took the pictures off of my mama's phone .... had to document the first mani/pedi ;-)

Big Girls

Lila ... 2.5 years ... first week at Sissy's for 2011-2012 school yearClare Anne ... 2 days shy of 6 weeks ... doing her best to hold that head up

2 extra sweet little girls

1st Day of School

Lila and I headed back to our respective schools this morning ... sigh, where did the summer go?! Lila was super excited about heading back to Sissy's and playing with her old friends, while I was a little indifferent. It helped knowing I only have to work for 7 days before I get a maternity leave. ;) Clare was the lucky one and got to stay home with Grammy.

Clare Goes to Church

While in Madison, we took Clare to church for the first time. We tried to take pictures -- our method has become adults who plaster a smile on their face while someone takes several pictures in a row hoping that there's one of the kids that's decent. Clare did really well, but did not sleep a wink. She was taking it all in. Loved being able to show her (and my big girl) off while I was home :)

Visitin' Family

To say that my girls were spoiled while in Madison would be an understatement. Clare and Lila both were held, cuddled, and humored for the entire visit. While we were in there, Clare got to meet some of her aunts and cousins and Lila got to play with some of her favorite cousins.

Aunt Beverly with Emma, who liked this baby. Thomas was there too, but he wasn't too agreeable when it came to snapping pictures.

Aunt SusieLila loved her some playtime with Emma!Some of my girls' favorite people ... Papa and Aunt CaseyLoved this picture of Clare -- Life's tough when you're 4 weeks old.Took advantage and grabbed a few pictures with the bambinos. I love my girls!